KUALA LUMPUR – The government will consider using revenue from tax duties on cigarettes and tobacco to cover the cost of smoking cessation programmes, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Adham (BN-Tenggara) said this after agreeing to the proposed suggestion by Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Parit Buntar-PH), who urged the government to consider using revenue from cigarette taxes to pay for treatments to kick the habit.
Earlier, Adham had said the government spent RM2.8 million last year on smoking cessation programmes.
“There are two kinds of treatment that we provide – nicotine replacement and non-nicotine replacement.
“Unfortunately, due to the price increase on the medication, the number of patients has also decreased.
“The ministry also cooperates with NGOs and professional organisations through the M-Quit programme, where all provisions in the programme are borne by the professional organisations.”
Adham said Malaysia now has 4.8 million smokers, about 21% of the population.
He added that only 22,000 smokers have been successfully treated since the smoking cessation programme was introduced.
“The proposal for us to use (money from the) cigarette tax to offset the cost of smoking cessation programmes is a good idea.” – The Vibes, November 30, 2020
